Chapter Eleven


Safe at Last

 

As I reached the top, I looked in the window, Nick was sitting on a chair in the middle of a darkened room, tied up, his mouth tied too. I pushed the window open further and sat on the windowsill. I counted to three then leapt down, landing on my knees. I nearly cried out in pain but I stopped myself, in case the men heard and came back.

Nick was starring at me with wide eyes. "I'll get you out," I mouthed, tiptoeing over and trying to untie him.

I had almost untied him when I heard footsteps. They were coming!

"What the..?!" one said when he saw me.

"Get her," the other cried. I gasped when I saw what was in his hand. A gun!

I pushed the door open and took Nick's hand. "Come on!" I yelled, feeling terrified, my heart thumping.

We rushed out onto the street, the guys after us. "Faster," I urged him.

One of the guys caught up and grabbed Nick. "Not so fast! Come back with us, we haven't finished yet...".

I tried to tear the man's hands from Nick but his grip was too strong. "Get the girl!" he yelled to the other guy.

At that moment I heard sirens. I let out a huge sigh of relief. The cops had arrived!

The men were shocked and stood still holding us when the cops got out and came over with handcuffs. "Let them go," one said to the guys.

"We're safe now," I told Nick, smiling with relief.

***

"You don't have to go on," Nick told me as we sat in the plane, which was almost ready to land in New York.

"I'll be fine," I told him. "But what about you?".

"I'll survive," he told me. "But if you feel too shaken up to perform, they'll understand...".

"No Nick, I'll be fine!".

The police had taken the two guys away and given us a ride to the airport where we had arrived just in time for the flight. I was relieved the kidnapping was over, it had been so scary! Nick seemed to be OK now, but was a little quiet.

"What are you gonna do now?" I asked him. "You can't let that happen again. You have to end the whole blackmailing thing for good,".

"How can I?" Nick said sadly. "I don't want everyone to know I'm a murderer!".

"You're not," I said calmly. "If you were to tell the world your story, they wouldn't think that at all. They'd feel sorry for you for going through such an ordeal. No-one would hate you,".

"They would,".

I sighed. "OK, keep on paying Jade and let it ruin your life," I said. "You'll see sooner or later that it has to end,".

"I want it to end," he said with a frown.

"Then tell the world. Yourself," I advised him. "If you leave it to Jade, she'll tell it in a nasty way. If you go ahead and go public yourself, you can tell them the truth and everything will be fine,".

He was silent for a few moments. "How do you think people will react? The fans?" he asked me.

"They'll be shocked. Shocked at how the 'sweet, innocent' Jade they think is so nice, played on your guilty feeling to get money and a career out of you,".

"If I told them, it would ruin Jade's reputation. Her career would be over,".

"Do you really want Jade to succeed and have a good career?" I asked.

He laughed. "She's nasty, of course not! She doesn't deserve one!".

"Exactly. Telling the world everything would ruin her career, and you want that!".

He smiled. "I didn't think of it that way. You're right! Maybe going public would be a good idea after all...".

"Your nightmare would be over then," I assured him.

"But they'll still think I'm a murderer...".

"No they won't," I said. "Not at all! Anyone with any sense would realise you couldn't prevent his death, it was an accident, nothing to do with you,".

He nodded slowly.

"Please go public," I told him. "It will end everything with Jade and there'll be no more kidnappings,". I wanted the best for Nick, and telling the world would be the best thing for him.

"Please,".

"OK," he said. "I'll do it for you,".

I gave him a hug. "You won't regret this," I said with a smile.

At that moment, the plane started to touch down on the runway. It was time to go to the studios for the TV show...

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